Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-15
A WORD ON PENSIONS.
S0NE CHANGES IL THE LAW Rtu1yNENn-
EDDY COMMISSIONER RIiVE.
In The Interest OF Iastics 10 tie SAGiu ani His
Dependents Sats6os-0ver Hslf xilScn
Pensioners o. ;ls Roll sTe peh-
siOrs La1 Year Than Ever Refle.

WASHINGTON, September li-General
John C. Black, Commissioner Of Pensions,
in his annual report to the Secretary Of
the Interior, makes the following import
ant suggestions:
First-That the allowance Of 81 per
month to mi:or children entitled to pen
sions is not adequate for their support and
should be increased to S. per month.
Second-That the act Of June l6, 1880,
be so amended as to permit the benefits Of
the set to be extended to those who. subse-
quent to the date Of its approval, from sg-
grsvation Of their malady, may have be-
come helpless.
Third-That the existing law that .
widows pension certificate can only bear
date from the day on which she fles her
application should he amended to allow the
continuance Of the pension TO date from
the death of the husband, the other condi.
tions required by the law being present.
Fourth-Tbat section ais Of the Re
vised Statutes be so amended as 10 pro-
hisit the payment Of more than one pension
10 the same person.
Fifth--That the law requiring pension
to be granted according TO the rank OF the
claimant at the time the injury Was re-
ceNed should be amended 10 that rank
subsequently required bonafide may he
considered by the commissioner In deter
mining the amount Of the pension 20 I've
allowed.
SlXtl-That the present rate for deaf
neSs should be increased by law 10 $50 per
month for total deafness, with informed.
late grades 10 be determined according 10
degree Of disability.
Seventh-That discretion should be
lodged in the Commissioner in correcting
discrepancies in the rates Of pensions for
loss OF limbs, or Congess should be asked
TO establish 0 abi. of rates TOR loss Of
limbs,
Eighth--That this law shall BE- amend
ed so that the Commissioner shall bc
authorized 10 pay the pension 20 tho wife
Of pensioner or 10 suitable person on
behalf Of his children, when the habits OF
the pensioner show him 10 he an unit per-
son 10 receive or disbursc his pension.
Ninth-Tbat an appropriation Of SIS, 0o0
be made to dcfray the expense of addi-
tional necessary PensioL agencies.
The report shows that there were ut the
close Of the year
4O8,OO1 PENSIONERS.
There were added 10 the rolls during the
year the names OF 55.l9i new pensioners
and the names Of 2,7U7 whose pensions had
been previously dropped were restored 10
the rolls. During the same period tho
names Of 1857 pensioners were dropped
from the rolls The aggregate annual
value Of all pensions is S52, s2i, ,64I.
an increase Of like value for
the year Of -, 49, ,6la The amount paid
for pensions during the previous year was
So, ,669, $50. The amount paid 20 u,0i8
new pensioners during the year upon first
payment was $25, l68,g90. During tho
year 81 l84 original certificates were issued.
q greater number than was ever before In
sued by the bureau in any one year.
The estimates for the fiscal year esdIns
June 30. 1883, aggregate SIS, ,Oi5, a30.
The appropriation for the last fiscal year
was S12 IOl $50